As someone who has built businesses both from scratch and with institutional support, I can tell you one thing: knowing how to raise funds is just as important as having a strong idea.
Right now, the Indian government is offering up to ₹50 lakhs to early-stage startups under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).
This is not a loan. This is not equity. This is a pure grant.
Yet, most startup founders I meet are either unaware of this or believe it’s too complicated to apply for.
Here’s what every serious founder needs to know:
🔹 You don’t need a market-ready product. You can apply even if you're at the idea or MVP stage.
🔹 You must be an Indian citizen with a startup registered in India, under 10 years old, and working on a tech-first or innovation-first model.
🔹 You must not have received prior government funding under any other central scheme.
🔹 To apply, your startup needs DPIIT recognition (which is free and easy to get at startupindia.gov.in)
🔹 Once recognised, go to https://lnkd.in/g66vuPaf, choose three incubators, upload your pitch deck and necessary documents, and submit your application.
As an entrepreneur, I’ve often seen amazing ideas collapse due to a lack of funds and access.
What I’ve also seen is that those who invest time in understanding government systems and startup policies go a lot further than those who wait for VCs to knock on their door.
If you're working on an idea that solves a real problem, don’t let the lack of capital hold you back.
🔹 Pitch clearly.
🔹 Show why your idea is innovative.
🔹 Prove that your team can build it.
🔹 Keep your documents and vision sorted.
India has never been more startup-friendly than it is today. But this window will only benefit those who are proactive and informed.
If you’re building, I strongly recommend exploring this scheme. Every founder should know this. Every startup should at least try.
A good pitch can open a ₹50 lakh door. Sometimes, that’s all you need to go from idea to execution.
Watch this space for more such insights.
And if you're someone working on a strong idea, now is the time to build.
startupindia founders entrepreneurship startupfunding SISFS governmentgrants businessstrategy
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